Jacobin Radio Dig: Hayek’s Bastards w/ Quinn Slobodian
May 20, 2025
Quinn Slobodian, a professor of international history at Boston University and author of 'Hayek's Bastards', dives into the unsettling ties between neoliberalism and far-right politics. He reveals how movements like MAGA embody an extremist neoliberal ideology while promoting divisive concepts like IQ and hard borders. The conversation highlights the historical roots of today's political landscape, the complexities within the Mont Pelerin Society, and critiques the evolving narratives around nationalism and immigration shaped by economic ideologies.
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Far-Right as Mutant Neoliberalism
- Far-right populism often emerges from mutant strains of neoliberalism and anarcho-capitalism rather than being purely anti-neoliberal backlash.
- These strains promote ideas like IQ as a measure of value, hard borders for people, and gold as currency.
Neoliberalism Defined
- Neoliberalism is a complex term used to describe an epoch, mindset, policy set, or specific intellectual movement.
- It's best understood as a self-conscious school defending capitalism through law, institutions, and ideas, distinct from capitalism itself.
Science as Far-Right Weapon
- Far-right neoliberals use science, especially IQ studies, to biologically justify inequality and refute egalitarianism.
- This scientific appeal is a modern substitute for divine authority to undermine social justice and maintain hierarchies.